Packaging-machine



N. A. CURTISS. PACKAGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULI/20.19I7.

Patented OCI. 5

I M a n a z/ o J 2 w i o .5 2 M I 4I f L@ o@ .wav Ilnn IIIIIIIIIIIII /o 3 0 2 2 2 UNITEDv STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN-pd. CURTISS, OF BALTIMORE. MARYLAND, ALSSIGNOR TO 'TI-IE CROWN CORK AND' SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPO- RATION OF MARYLAND.

Application led July 20,

T o aZZKwLo/m/ t may concern:

Bie it known that I, NATHAN A. CURTISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packaging-Machines, fully described and represented in theY following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in packaging machines. l In the use of packaging machines as heretofore Iknown, particularly in packaging such liquids as milk, there has been much inconvenience, due to the leakage of theA liquid inand about the filling heads.

Y It is the object ofthe present invention to provide a filling` head for a packaging machine, such that they leakage of the liquid being packaged, is effectively eliminated.

The following specification describes and the accompanying drawing illustrates a fillin'g head for packaging machines con-v structed in accordance with the invention, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawing-f p Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view with parts in elevation, of a filling head constructed in accordance with the invention; Y

Fig. 2 isa vertical cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the filling head in filling position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-.3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a Similar view, taken on'the yline 4 4 of' Fig. 2.

The drawing illustrates a filling head for a packaging machine for use withliquids generally, but particularly adapted for packaging milk. Thev milk or otherv liquid is contained in a reservoir 15 into which extends a valve tube 16 for aiding in directing the liquid to the bottle or other receptacle 17, and having near its upper end a number of lateral openings 18 for the admission of the liquid in the reservoir. The filling head is movable to and from the bottles and to this end the tube is slidable in a guide 19 secured into the bottom of the reservoir by Specification of Lettersv Patent.

PACKAGING-MACHINE.

` Patented Oct. 5', 1920.Y i917".Y Serial" N6. 181,721.

a nut 20, a liquid-tight joint being' provided at the| bottom by a packing nut 21.

' For the reciprocating movement of the filling head, the valve tube which controls the entire head, has/mounted thereon a yoke 22 connected by links 23 with the yoke'd end 24 ot an operating lever 25 oscillated by any suitable means such that on the down stroke, the head is imp'ositively impelled.

*A In theV structure shown', associated with the lower end of the valve tube 16 in directing the liquid, and forming in efi'e'ct a continuation of the tube', is a valve cage 26, andl the invention includes means for' directing upward any liquid tending to leak out in passage.- Although capable of various constructions, in the .present embodiment, the valve tube and valve cage are in telescopic relation, the cage being outside the tube. With such a construction any liquid tending to worky in between the telescoping parts is directed upward and consequently much leakage is eliminated.

A valve is provided for normally shutting ofi the flow of liquid, andin addition there is provided means for the automatic opera tion of this valve. To this end,y in the embodiment shown, insidethe valve tube, and connected therewith, is a vent tube 27. This vent tube is supplied with a sleeve 28 having therein an annular groove registering with a slot in a guide member 29 in the top of the valve tube, and a spring cotter pin 129 is passed' through the slot and groove. At the lower end, this vent tube is provided with a conical shaped valve member 30 normally seating against the rim of the valve cage 26 to shut oil' the fio-w oi liquid.

The valve cage 26 is pressed downwardly by-ka coil spring 31 embracing the cage and held between the yoke 22 and a shoulder 32 formed on the valve cage.

Y For making sealing contact with the bottle to be filled, the valve cage carries a resilient gasket 33 and a guard 34 is provided. held in place by the spring, and having a downwardly extending skirt, for directing downwardly any liquid escaping from a possibly broken lipped bottle.

When the valve tube is moved downward by the operating lever, the vent tube and valve member also move downwardly, and the valve cage being free to follow, descends under the force of the spring. During this portionv of the operation the valve, as will be apparent, is kept closed. This movement A continues until-the gasket 33 makes sealing contact with the bottle, whereupon the valve cage stops. As the stroke of'the lever continues, the valve tube moves on downward, telescoping within the now stationary cage, and'carrying with it the valve member. This further movement of the parts compresses the spring 31. As will be apparent, thev movement just described displaces the valve member away from its seat and consequently the liquid is permitted to flow down through the tube cage and open valve into the bottle or other receptacle.

AMeans is provided for sealing the joint between the telescoping tube and cage and in structures embodying the invention tothe best advantage, the joint is automatically sealed during the period of greatest iow.

, Although variable withina wide 'range this u may be accomplished, forl example, by providing a sealing seat for the rim of the valve cage. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, the

lower face of the yoke 22, which is in effect a shoulder onthe valve tube, is provided with a groove 35 which serves as a seat for the rim of the valve cage.v In the operation above described, therefore, the valve tube and valve descend untilthe rim of the valve cage enters its seat, whichV terminates the down stroke of the head. This positionof the parts leaves the valve, asv-shownfinLFig. 2, in its most open position, and during this period of greatest iiow, the jointV between the telescoping :tube and cage is eiij'ectively Ysealed by .the contact `of the cage rim with itsseat, thereby preventing any leakage.

During the flow ofthe liquid into the bottle, the displaced airV escapes up through.

the vent tube 27, and to'make sure that the.

top thereof shall always'be above the level ofthe liquid in the reservoir, the vent tubey proper is provided with removable eXtcnsion 3.6.

u After the bottle 'is filled the lever 25 starts its return. stroke, thus lifting the valvey tube which carries with it4 the vent tube and Vvalve member. During the first part of this upwardV stroke, the valve cage is held down against the bottle by the compression voff the spring 31, thus holding the gasket in sealing contact with the bottle, rim until the valve is closed. Continued movement of the vent tube sea ts the valve member against the Y myv hand.

' 1. In packaging machines, a valve tube for directing liquid from a reservoir to the receptacles to be illed, a valve cage in telescopic relation with said valve tube, a yoke associated with the valve tube for reciprocating the same, and a grooved seat in said yoke for receiving the rim of said valve cage.

2. In packaging machines, a valve tube for directing liquid from a reservoir to the receptacles ,to be lled, a valve cage in telescopic relation with said valve tube a yoke associated with the valve tube for reciprocatingV the same, a grooved seat in said yoke for receiving the rim of said valve cage, a shoulder V,on said valve cage, a bottle guard carried by said shoulder, and a coil spring between said yoke andsaid shoulder.

- 3. Inv packaging machines, a valve tube for directing liquid from a reservoir to the receptacles to be filled, a valve cage telescopingY the valve Ytube outside thev latter, a yoke associated with the valve tube for reciprocating the same, and a grooved seat in said yoke for receiving the rim of said valve cage.

t. In lpackaging machines, a valve tube for directing liquid from ay reservoir to the receptacles to be filled, a valve cage telescoping the valve tube outside the latter, a yoke associated with the valve tube for reciprocating the same, a valve member seatvin`g against the lower rim of the valve cage and moved bythe valve tube, means whereby'the valve cage is stopped by contact with the receptacle prior to the end of the stroke of the valve tube, thereby to cause relative movement of the valve tube and valve cage, and a grooved seat in said yoke for receiving the upper rim of said valve cage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set Vivirrrmivii] cunriss. Witnesses i I-I. M. SAITHE, FRANK L. LLOYD. 

